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LONDON— Leaders of the Muslim community in France have expressed their anger after a French magazine published caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. Amid fears of a backlash over the cartoons, the French government has responded by planning to close schools and embassies in Muslim countries.

On the front cover of Wednesday’s publication, a French satirical magazine showed a cartoon of an orthodox Jew pushing the Prophet Muhammad in a wheelchair. On the inside pages, the prophet is depicted naked in a number of caricatures.

French authorities sent riot police protection to the offices of the weekly magazine, Charlie Hebdo, amid fears of a reprisal. The government also said it would temporarily close French embassies, consulates, cultural centers and schools in 20 countries Friday as a precaution, in case protests break out after weekly Muslim prayers.

French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault called for calm and said freedom of expression is guaranteed in France. He said those who are offended by the cartoons should turn to French courts to resolve the issue legally.

Last year, the satirical magazine published an edition that it described as having been “guest edited” by the Prophet Muhammad. Its offices were later firebombed.

One of the magazine’s cartoonists, who works by the name Tignous, defended the cartoons. It is just a drawing, he said. It is not a provocation.

But the publication comes while anger is widespread in many Muslim communities over an overtly offensive, low-budget Internet video produced by an extremist in the United States. In the backlash following the video’s release, some two dozen people have been killed, including the U.S. ambassador to Libya.

French Muslim leaders called for calm after meeting with the country’s Interior Minister. The President of the French Council of Muslims, Mohammed Moussaoui, described the “indignation” and “anger” Muslims feel, but said the response would be “serene.”

He said Muslims would not respond to provocation. He said that French authorities, however, should send out strong messages to appease and reassure Muslims that they have a right to the same respect as their fellow citizens.

France has Western Europe’s largest Muslim community.

Last Saturday, police in the French capital Paris made dozens of arrests at an unauthorized protest near the U.S. embassy, which drew about 150 people.

Ayrault told French radio that authorities had rejected a request to hold a further demonstration this coming Saturday.

Afghan officials and human rights organizations assert that Pakistani authorities are using deadly attack at school in Peshawar as pretext to push out Afghan refugees More

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by: Orhan Fazlioglu from: Istanbul,Turkey

September 21, 2012 1:30 AM

The French government assures its citizens about the freedom of speech and expression as well as human rights.However, it doesn't move its finger to stop desecration of some French nationalities for Islam and its followers.What do you expect muslims to do ? Isn't it normal to take the matter in their hands when a country pays lip-service to the all kinds of human rights? I am by no means in favour of violence, but don't expect Muslims to act like Christians.Even Christans became quiet when Prophet Christ was defamed by an insulting movie years ago.When it happened, muslims again stood up against this desecration.

For a couple of weeks, the partners of DEVIL are on the scene.They plot to trigger a conflict between Muslims and Christians,but their attempt will fail because the real protector of Islam is ALLAH.Nobody can harm both the beloved prophets (Muhammed and Christ) and the holy message,Islam.They will certainly be overwhelmed by a common response around the world. ISLAM is totally against all kinds of violence.It is the religion of peace.We shouldn't let some evil-intentioned people distrupt peace between peaceful people.If we fall in to the trap of their ruse we will make the Satan feel happy,and therefore, blow the bellows of hatred and animosity all around the world.Please,speak out against those people as they are currently trying to drag the whole world into a turmoil.

In Response

by: Ian from: USA

September 21, 2012 1:03 PM

"ISLAM is totally against all kinds of violence" So what kind of violence should we classify this death of our ambassador?A blind person does not know blindness , because he is in darkness , he believe his darkness world as the truth. A person with eye sight can see the world as it is versus what darkness is when he closes his eyes.

Please explain to me how muslims will ever be able to reconcile "the religion of peace" with the reality of the american ambassador's tortured lifeless body. A real human being will shed tears over that image without having to quote Gods &amp; prophets . I saw his death's picture by the hands of muslim fanatics and my soul is filled with pain &amp; sorrow .

So please don't preach God, Gods, Allah , Christ &amp; Mohamed and Satan. I heard enough of excuses .Because animals kill by instinct, they are free of guilt. Humans kill because when they perceive a threat to their ego, Gods &amp; prophets have nothing to do with it, and don't blame Satan either. It is the easy way out for billions of muslims.

Please do some hard work when it concerns your conscience. God does not get unhappy when someone utters some offended words or draws some bad cartoons . you are !

by: truth hurts

September 20, 2012 11:25 PM

If you attack black, it is racism, if you attack Jew, it is antisemitism, and if you attack muslim, it is free speech.

Similarly, if a brown person goes in church and kills 6 people, he is a terrorist. If a white man goes in Sikh temple and kills 6, he is just nuts.

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